This report evaluates the initial results of two tests used to elucidate certain structural features of artificially degraded modern textiles as well as naturally degraded samples. In the first, the moisture regain is measured by ASTM test method D2654-75 which can provide a measure of crystallinity, and in the second, the sample is extracted with NaHCO*l3*s as described by Albeck, et al which gives information about the alkali solubility of the samples and the number of C*l1*s aldehyde groups present in the cellulose.